Motorola Inc has opened a new software development centre in Hyderabad.

The centre is part of the Motorola Computer Group and will accommodate its advanced platforms organisation (APO) in India, formerly known as NetPlane Systems.

The APO division will focus on next-generation product development. The centre is located at the Vanenburg IT Park in Hyderabad and covers 15,325 sq. ft.

"This opening is a very important milestone for Motorola Computer Group. It's our first centre in India and is also our first centre devoted entirely to software development, which is critical to serving our customers," said Wendy Vittori, vice president and general manager, Motorola Computer Group.

Motorola is one of the global leaders in providing integrated communications and embedded electronic solutions. In 2002, its worldwide sales were estimated at $26.7 billion.

The Motorola Computer Group is a business unit of the Motorola Integrated Electronic Systems Sector that  offers standards-based computing solutions and systems that are embedded into larger end-products and systems for diverse applications.

In India, Motorola plans to double the number of employees based at its Hyderabad facility to 80 over the next two years.

"We now will be providing our customers higher levels of integration and more functionality to simplify the design and deployment of their next-generation systems. The new centre reiterates Motorola's belief in India's skilled manpower," says Vittori.

The software expertise in this centre will enable Motorola to help its customers and original equipment manufacturers reduce integration time and costs because now they can purchase solutions and systems from a single source.

Motorola's other operations in India currently include its wireless infrastructure, mobile handsets, two-way radios, broadband, semiconductors and software group businesses.